Ash tray



Aug. 6, 1940. F. w. GRANT'HAM .2210.201

' l Asia muy! Filed sep-t; 19,v 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet All@ 6, 1940. F. w. GRANTHAM 2.210,20?

ASH TRAY Filed sept. 19, 1958 :s sheets-sheet 2 Aug- 6, 1940. F. w. GRANTHAM 2210,20?

ASH TRAY Filed sept. 19.v 193e s sheets-sheet s ma 1.6.1940 A :2.210.201r

UNITED STATES PATIEIN'Il OFFICE a ASH TRAY Frederick W. Grantham, Winnetka, Ill., assignor of one-half to A.l S. Holway, Wilmette, Ill.

Application September 19, 1938, Serial No. 230,525

11 Claims. (Cl. 131-240) The invention relatesv to improvements in ash ported by the ears I6 as shown. Each trap door receptacles adapted for smokers use and has for I1 is provided with an outwardly extending opits primary object the provision of an improved erating arm I9 to facilitate manipulations thereash receptacle so constructed and arranged as to of. Supporting brackets 20 are secured as shown discharge a cigarette or the like placed thereon to diametrically opposite points of the top side of 5 to prevent the falling of said cigarette therethe mouth |3 directly above the brackets |5 and from due to continued burning, which is of simare provided as shown with upwardly and lnple construction and highly efiicient in use. wardly extending perforated supporting ears Another object of the invention is the provi- 2|. Pivotally mounted on each of the brackets lo sion of an improved arrangement of the charis a cigarette or cigar support 22 having de- 10 acter indicated so constructed and arranged as pending perforated ears 23 pivotally supported to insure positive operation thereof under varon a supporting pin extending between the ears ious conditions of use. 2| as shown. A thermostatic element 24 in the Other objects will appear hereinafter. form of a curved leaf is arranged as shown in an l5 The invention consists in the combinations opening in the bottom of each support 22, where and arrangements of parts hereinafter described it will be subjected to the heating action of a and claimed. lighted cigarette or cigar stub placed upon the 'Ihe invention will be best understood by refcorresponding support 22, as indicated by the erence to the accompanying drawings forming a dotted lines in Fig. 2. 'I'he free end of each 20 part of this specification and in which thermostatic member 24 is provided with an elec- 20 Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an ash tray emtric contact 25 cooperating with another elecbodying the invention; tric contact 26 mounted on the mouth |3 of Fig. 2 a vertical transverse section of the same the cover I2 in cooperative relation therewith. taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Each contact 26 is connected by a wire 21 with Fig. 3 a section taken substantially on line 3-3 a solenoid 28, said solenoid being connected by 25 of Fig. 2; wires 29 and 29 with one end of an electric Fig. 4 a vertical longitudinal section of a modibattery 30 mounted in suitable clips as shown fled form of construction; t in the lower portion of the receptacle I0, the Fig. 5 a horizontal section of the construction other end of said battery being grOlmded 0n Said shown in Fig. 4; receptacle, thereby placing each of the supports $0 Fig. 6 a view similar to Fig, 5 but; showing an- 22 in electrical connection with said battery. other modified form of construction; f 'I'he core 3| of each of the solenoids 28 is con- Fig. '7 a side view, shown partally in section, nected as shown with the Operating arm I9 0f of another modified form of construction; the COIreSDOnding trap dOOr |1- Fig. 8 a. partial top plan view of the construc- When a lighted cigaretteor cigar is laid upon 35 tion shown in Fig. 7; and one of the suports 22 and continues to burn, as

Fig. 9 a detailed section showing still another soon as the heat thereof reaches the thermo- `modified form of construction. staticleaf 24, said leaf operates automatically to The embodiment of the construction illustratcause the contact 25 to touch the contact 26 ed in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 comprises a receptacle I0 thereby closing the electric circuit through the 40 having a raised bottom arranged to support solenoid 28. Excitation of the solenoid 28 raises burning cigarettes or cigars discharged into said the corresponding core 3|, thereby operating the receptacle in such a manner as to prevent dam-` corresponding trap door I1 to depress or open age from the heat. to an underlying supporting the Same fOI' the reception 0f the Cigarette Stub surface such as highly finished table tops. The from the support 22. Each trap door I'I is con- 45 receptacle IIJ is provided with a removable cover neoted by a suitable link IJ' with the corremember II having inwardly tapering conical Spending support 22 so that depression of the mouth I3 providing a central entry opening I4 same automatically and simultaneously tilts said through which ashes, cigarettes and cigar stubs support upwardly as indicated by the dotted lines' may be inserted into the receptacle I0. l at the right of Fig. 2 to discharge positively the 50 Brackets I5 are secured as shown at diaobject resting thereon. Upon discharge of the metrically opposite points of the under side of burning object, the heat thereof is removed from the mouth I3 and provided with depending perthe thermostatic element 24, thereby breaking forated supporting ears I6 and pivotally supthe circuit through the solenoid 28 and releasing;l porting two trap doors I'I on pivot pins I8 supthe parts for return to normal positions under -55 the influence of the weightsthereof, the support 22 being so pivoted as to automatically return of its own weight and the weight of the corresponding core 3| serving .as sumcient weight to return the corresponding trap door |1 In this way, when a lighted cigarette or cigar stub is laid upon one of the supports 32, and forgotten by the smoker, its continued burning will cause its automatic, positive, and complete discharge into the ash tray, and will thereby prevent its toppling outwardly onto the supporting surface of the ash tray when its consumption has continued long enough to cause the protruding outer end to outweigh the consumed inner end thereof.

Thus the highly polished surface of table tops upon which the ash trays` may rest will be automatically and perfectly protected from accidental burning and marring by cigarette or cigar stubs toppllng from the supports onto said table tops.

In the modiiied form of construction illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the ash receptacle 32 is made roughly in the form of the body of a pelican. The part 33 representing the lower bill of the pelican is pivotally mounted at 34 to swing upwardly and inwardly to imitate the gulping or eating action of a pelican. A support for a cigarette or cigar stub is arranged at the outer.

end of the part 33 in the form of a bent leaf spring 35 of thermostatic material which carries an electric contact 38 cooperating with a corresponding contact 31 on the part 33 and connected by wire 38 with the solenoid 28 which in turn is connected by wire 39 with the battery 38 positioned as shown in the upper rear portion of the body 32. The core 3| -oi the solenoid 28 is connected by a link 3|' with one side of the part 33 so that excitation of the solenoid 28 will cause depression of the inner end of the part 33, thereby raising its outer end to cause a supported cigarette or cigar stub to be discharged into the body 32. In this way substantially the same results as before are obtained and lat the same time the impression given that the represented pellcan is actually swallowing or gulping the cigarette or cigar stub, thereby furnishing an attractive table or desk ornament.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 6, a lever 4|! is pivotally mounted at-34 in the bill part 33 of the pelican figure and is provided at its outer end with a support 40' for a cigarette or cigar stub. An electric contact 4| is arranged as shown on the under side of the support 49' to cooperate with a' stationary contact 42. The lever 48 is provided at its inner end with a weight 43 sufficient to hold the same in contact with a stop pin 44 and thereby normally hold the contacts 4| and 42 separated. However, the parts are so nearly balanced that theweight of a cigarette or cigar stub on the support 40' will overbalance the weight 43 and thereby cause depression of the electric contact 4| into actual contact with a contact 42. Contact 42 is connected by wire 45 with the heating coil 48 of a thermostatic switch member 41 and a wire 48 connects the other end of said heating coil with the battery 30. 'Thermostatic switch 41 carries a contact 49 connected by branch wire with the wire 45 and cooperating with a contact 5| connected by wire 52 with the solenoid 28. The arrangement is such that when the contact 4| is depressed to close the circuit through the heating coil 48, the circuit through the solenoid 28 will not at once be closed ,as contacts 49 and 5I are normally held separated as shown in Fig. 8. However, as current iiows through theheating coil 48, the ther- -inbstatic switch 41 is heated in the usual way to cause closing of the contacts 43 and 8|, thereby establishing a circuit vthrough the solenoid 28 attera predetermined lapse of time. Obviously. by adjusting the distance between the contacts 48 and 5| this lapse of time can be regulated as desired. As soon as the circuit is closed through the solenoid, the core thereof is drawn downwardly, thereby swinging the lower bill part 33 upwardly to cause discharge of the cigarette or cigar stub. As soon as the `stub is thus discharged the weight of the parts will cause operation of contacts 4| and 42, thereby breaking the circuit through solenoid 28 and releasing the parts for return to normal position due to their oWIi` weight.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 'I and 8, two supports 53 are pivotally mounted at 54 on opposite sides of the cover i2 of the ash tray I0 and are equipped with weights 55 normally holding said supports slightly tilted upwardly and outwardly as indicated. Each support carries on its under side an electric contact 58 cooperating with a corresponding contact 51 connected by wire 58 with a corresponding solenoid 28'. Each solenoid 28 operates a corresponding core 3|" carrying a piston 88 loosely operating in a corresponding cylinder 8|. Each piston 88 is loose enough in its cylinder 8| so that there will be some leakage of air around its edges. Thus when each solenoid 28 is excited it cannot at once raise its core 3|" because of the resistance of the piston 88, but as the air gradually leaks past said piston, said core will slowly rise under the influence of the magnetic action of the corresponding solenoid 28'. Each core 3| carries a switch bar 82 cooperating with electric contacts 83 and 64. Contact 83 is connected by a branch wire with the wire 58 and contact 84 is connected by Wire 85 with the solenoid 28, which in turn is connected by another wire 86 with the battery 38. By this arrangement, as soon as switch bar 82 joins contacts 83 and 84, the corresponding, f

resting upon the support 53 will be positively pushed therefrom and discharged into the ash tray Ill.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 9, a cigarette or cigar support 89 is pivoted at 13 and normally held in a slightly upwardly and outwardly tilted position by the action of spring 1|. On its under side the support 89 carries an electric contact 12 cooperating with a contact 13 connected with the wire 58. A cooperating supporting bar 14 is arranged as shown adjacent the inner end of the support 89, so that a cigarette or cigar stub, laid upon the bar 14 will have its outer end resting upon the inner end of the support 89, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9. However, as shown, the stub thus resting on the bar 14 will be nearly balanced thereon so that the weight resting on the inner end oi the support 89 will be very slight. As the inner end of the stub is consumed by continued burning, the outer end thereof becomes relatively heavier and more unbalanced until its weight is suiiicient to depress the support 89 to close contacts 12 and 13, thereby closing the circuit through the corresponding solenoid 28' with the same results as indicated above. In this way a device is provided which will be actuated by the shifting of Weight or balance due to the continued burning of a cigarette or cigar stub laid upon the support 69.

The specic forms and arrangements of parts disclosed are simple and effective ones for the purpose.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of construction for carrying the invention into eect, these are capable of variation and modiication without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details disclosed, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with an ash receptacle, oi. a support mounted thereon and arranged to discharge thereinto; an electric circuit; means operable by said circuit for discharging an object on said support into said receptacle; and means operable by an object on said support for actuating said circuit.

2. 'I'he combination with an ash receptacle, of a support mounted thereon and arranged to discharge thereinto; an electric circuit; means operable by said circuit for discharging an object on said4 support into said receptacle; and thermostatic means operable Aby the heat of a burning object on said support for actuating said circuit.

3. The combination with an ash receptacle, oi a support mounted thereon and arranged to discharge thereinto; an electric circuit; means operable by said circuit for discharging an object on said support into said receptacle; and means operable by the weight of an object on said support for actuating said circuit.

4. The combination with an ash receptacle, of a support mounted thereon and arranged to discharge thereinto; an electric circuit; means operable by said circuit i'or pushing an object from said support into said receptacle; and means operable by an object on said support for actuating said circuit.

5. The combination with an ash receptacle, oi' a support mounted thereon and arranged to discharge thereinto; a main electric circuit and a branch circuit leading therefrom; means in said main circuit automatically operating after the lapse of a predetermined time after the deposit oi an object on said support to close said branch circuit; means in saidv branch circuit for `discharging an object on said support into said receptacle; and means operable by an object on said support for actuating said main circuit.

6. I'he combination with an ash receptacle, of a support mounted thereon and arranged to discharge thereinto; a main electric circuit and a branch circuit leading therefrom; means in said main circuit automatically operating after the 'lapse of a predetermined time after the deposit of anobject on said support to close said branch circuit; means in said branch circuit for discharging an object on said support into said receptacle; and means operable by the weight of. an object on said support for actuating said main circuit.

7. The combination with an ash receptacle, oi a support mounted thereon and arranged to discharge thereinto; a main electric circuit and a branch circuit leading therefrom; means in said main circuit automatically operating after the lapse of a predetermined time after the deposit of an object on said support to close said branch circuit; means in said branch circuit for discharging an object on said support into said receptacle; and means operable by the shifting of weight due to the burning of an object on said support for actuating said main circuit.

8. 'Ihe combination with an ash receptacle, of a support mounted thereon and arranged to discharge thereinto; a trap door giving access to said receptacle; an electric circuit; means operable by said circuit for opening said trap door and discharging an object on said support into said receptacle; and means operable by an object on said support for actuating said circuit.

9. The combination with an ash receptacle, of a support mounted thereon and arranged to discharge thereinto; a trap door giving access to said receptacle; an electric circuit; means operable by said circuit for opening said trap door and discharging an object on said support into said receptacle; .and thermostatic means operable by the heat of a burning object on said support for actuating said circuit.

10. 'I'he combination of an ash receptacle; an electric circuit; a support pivotally mounted on said receptacle and constituting a normally open yielding switch for said circuit arranged to be closed by the weight of. an object thereon; and means operable by closing said circuit for discharging an object on said support into said receptacle.

11. The combination of an ash receptacle; an electric circuit; a support pivotally mounted on said receptacle and constituting a normally open yielding switch for said circuit arranged to be closed by the shifting of weight due to the burning of an object thereon; and means operable by closing said circuit for discharging an object on said support into said receptacle. y

FREDERICK W. GRANTI-IAM. 

